Cheese moulding device with an enhanced level of hygiene

Abstract

A cheese moulding device with an enhanced level of hygiene. The invention relates to a cheese moulding device (100) comprising: —at least one moulding drum (1) comprising a lower portion comprising a base (3) delimiting an open enclosure shaped to receive at least one cheese mould (13), —at least one mobile plate (12) configured to support the at least one cheese mould (13), the mobile plate (12) being shaped to seal the lower portion of the moulding drum (1) in a first so-called sealing position and to allow access to said cheese mould (13) in a second so-called retracted position, —at least one washing circuit configured to clean said moulding device (100), said washing circuit comprising at least one section of circuit (15) opening into the lower portion of the moulding drum (1), characterised in that the moulding device (100) further comprises at least one protective casing (4) positioned between the base (3) of the moulding cylinder (1) and the mobile plate (12), said protective casing (4) delimiting an enclosure that is sealed relative to the outside of the moulding device (100).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A molding device for cheeses comprising:
 at least one molding cylinder including a lower portion including a base delimiting an open enclosure shaped to receive at least one cheese mold, 
 at least one movable plate configured to support the at least one cheese mold, the at least one movable plate being shaped to close the lower portion of the at least one molding cylinder in a first position called closing position and to allow access to said cheese mold in a second position called retracted position, 
 at least one washing circuit configured to clean said molding device, said at least one washing circuit including at least one circuit section opening into the lower portion of the at least one molding cylinder, and 
 at least one protective casing positioned between the base of the at least one molding cylinder and the at least one movable plate, said at least one protective casing delimiting a sealed enclosure relative to an outside of the molding device, 
 wherein the at least one protective casing comprises an upper wall sealingly linked to the base of the at least one molding cylinder in such a way that said at least one movable plate sealingly separates the base of the at least one molding cylinder from the at least one protective casing when the at least one movable plate is in the closing position, wherein an opening is formed on the upper wall of the at least one protective casing, the opening is configured to at least partially receive the at least one movable plate in the closing position, and wherein the at least one washing circuit comprises at least one dispensing and washing member positioned in the at least one protective casing. 
 
     
     
       2. The molding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective casing comprises a lower wall positioned opposite to the upper wall and at least one side wall linking the upper wall to the lower wall, the upper wall of said at least one protective casing having at least one slope oriented to an outside of the at least one molding device. 
     
     
       3. The molding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one movable plate comprises a peripheral groove formed on at least one portion of a periphery of said at least one movable plate, the peripheral groove being shaped to receive a sealing gasket intended to allow a sealed closing of the base of the molding cylinder when said movable plate is in the closing position. 
     
     
       4. The molding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the molding device further comprises a lifting member of the said at least one movable plate positioned in the said at least one protective casing, said lifting member being configured to allow the displacement of the at least one movable plate at least between the closing position and the retracted position of said at least one movable plate. 
     
     
       5. The molding device according to  claim 4 , wherein the lifting member comprises an additional gasket reinforcing the sealing and a valve configured to control the sealing of said gasket. 
     
     
       6. The molding device according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one protective casing comprises an access hatch formed on a side wall of said at least one protective casing.